The Killer is Dying

Jimmie is abandoned by his parents; Christian, a contract hitman, is sick with an unspecified illness that he knows he won’t recover from, while Sayles, a detective goes through the motions of everyday life as his wife lies dying at home. These three disparate characters’ lives slowly begin to converge after Christian’s latest target is shot by someone else. Interweaving themes of loss and the fragility of human existence, Sallis’ multilayered novel has an otherworldliness that transcends its genre. This is a fine example of literary crime fiction with an unusual plot and engaging characters which will hopefully bring Sallis the wider recognition which he deserves.